canowindra curriculum

As a learning community, Canowindra:

Recognizes the ongoing nature of learning.
Acknowledges that learning involves taking risks.
Recognizes the variety of ways in which we learn.
Involves parents and other interested people in our classrooms.
Encourages talking, writing and doing - parents, students and teachers.
Encourages participation from parents and students in decision-making.
Recognizes that at different times of the year different programs require intense focus and attention, which impact significantly upon the regular delivery of the curriculum
Ensures a team approach to the development of the whole curriculum across the year
Supports one another.
Focuses on current community issues.
Exposes students to the world beyond their local community
Encourages professional interaction about the learning needs of young adolescents.
Accepts the concept of life long learners for all of us.
Involves teachers involved with collaborative groups of students.
Provides a supportive learning environment for all.
Involves students in co-curricular activities.
Promotes a sense of fun.

The Year 9 curriculum is divided into a range of Core, Elective, Activity, Pastoral, Sport and co-curricula programs, all with fully integrated ICT due to the notebook computer program. Canowindra offers all students a broad range of experiences; from the bush to the city in the Duke of Edinburgh and City Experience Programs, as well as in their local community. Being a stand-alone program, it fosters a close sense of community amongst the students through the emphasis on teamwork and collaboration.

Core programs run during the morning sessions up until the lunch break. Our Focus Week Programs run for eight weeks of the year; two weeks of every term. This adaptation of the Core Program allows for deep focus on one particular topic over the period of a week.

Students select from a range of Elective and Activity offerings which make up three of the five afternoon sessions. Sport and the Pastoral Care program complete the final two afternoons of the week.

Core Program	Activities Program	Elective Program
English	Community Art	3D Art	Music Technology
English Study Skills	Media Makers	Classics & Culture	News and Views
Humanities	Model Solar Vehicle Challenge	Dance: Count Me In	Outdoor Education
It’s a W.R.A.P. – Weekly Reflection Achievement and Learning	Racing for the Future	Design & Technology	Painting and Drawing
L.O.T.E. German	Rock Band	Digital Design	Real World Investigations
L.O.T.E. Indonesian	Rock It Out	Drama	Robotics
Mathematics		Game Maker	S.O.L.A.R. – Student Oriented Learning and Research
Mind, Body & Soul		Multimedia: Sound and Vision	Visual Communication and Design
Religious Studies		Multimedia: Wonders of Word and Web	Voluntary Service
Science		Music For Performance

Please refer to our Year 9 Canowindra Course Information Booklet to see the range of subjects on offer.

For more information about Canowindra, please contact the Head of Canowindra, Derek Summerton. EMAIL LINK

(Last update January 20, 2011)